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Tour of Elk Grove - NE
Illinois, USA, August 11-12, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage
Stage 2 - August 12: Gullo International criterium, 110 km
Dominguez is back, O'Neill cruises into payday
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Elk Grove, Illinois
The final criterium race of the Tour of Elk Grove was run on a shorter version of the course used in yesterday's criterium -- but somehow covering a longer distance. Also increased was the cash on the line, with a purse of $45,000 for the stage and $60,000 for the general classification. Entering the race Nathan O'Neill (Health Net-Maxxis) held a three second lead he earned by winning the opening prologue. The battle to take the lead away from him was fought out with the intermediate bonus sprints, but the contenders cancelled each other out and O'Neill walked away with the cash. Taking the stage win was Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United), back to his fast form after a time off for injury.
"Yesterday's prologue was the most lucrative 4.5 miles in my career!" joked O'Neill after the race. But he will be laughing all the way to the bank as he deposits $31,000 for his 'efforts.'
"We never expected it work out this way," he said. "It's just pure chance with the fact that none of the guys that needed to get time bonuses did." When asked what the team tactics for the day were, O'Neill replied, "The only strategy we had was get on our knees and pray! The gamble was that Freddie [Rodriguez] or Mike Friedman would have had to be in the top three."
"I'm pretty upset -- it would have been a really nice win," said Friedman who remained in second place by just three seconds despite hanging everything out in the sprints. "The team worked so well... it's not a let-down, but it is. I wanted to win so bad for them and I feel like I let them down.
"We had decided to bring any of the breaks back unless something was huge," said Dominguez. "The guys did great to bring the break back, and we had some help from Horner, too. I was feeling ok and followed the Slipstream guy all the way to the line."
Dominguez's win shows he is back up to his normal speed after being sidelined with an injury in the middle of his season. However, August is the month his team needs him the most, especially with next weekend's USPRO criterium championship. "It's not the race I love -- I've crashed their twice. But we don't have any American sprinter so we'll see."
Helping out Toyota-United's work to bring back the break was Chris Horner, who did a lot of similar work yesterday to set-up his team-mate Freddie Rodriguez. But today the flow of the sprint did not suit Fast Freddie, so Horner found he was leading himself out. "I was doing all this work and ended up sitting on the sprinter's wheel, so I thought I could stay on and take the jersey too!" said Horner. "But again the sprinters came by me -- they were fresh and I wasn't from riding the front for 8 laps."
Also missing from the sprint was Canadian Dominque Rollin (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada), who had an unlucky crash with 5 laps to go and no free laps remaining. Four of his five teammates dropped back to pace him back into the pack, but were only able to get him on the back with a little more than 1 lap to go. "I was sixth wheel with 5 to go and a guy cut me off inside in one of the turn-arounds," he said. "I was just hoping to keep my spot on GC -- it was so hard to chase, especially with two teams driving hard. My team did a great job today."
The main break of the day was a group of five, driven primarily by Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefits/Medifast) and Jacob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrands) -- with each taking solo flyers after being frustrated by the group. While not succeeding in their quest for a stage win, the rich primes made up for the disappointment.
Cheerwine makes sweep of NRC points in Elk Grove
Not only did Kiwi Catherine Cheatly (Cheerwine) ride away from the field and her breakaway companion to take the lion's share of the $17,000 prize pool, but her teammates Kelly Benjamin and Laura Van Gilder outsprinted the rest of the field to make it a clean Cheerwine sweep
Cheatley broke away with Dale Tye (Hub Racing) with a little more than two laps to go. The duo were used to riding together since both are from New Zealand. "I was in the break with my fellow New Zealander -- we've ridden together a lot and she's quite a strong rider."
From what at first looked like a desperation move turned serious as the two increased their lead. Helping this was the outright majority that Team Cheerwine held in the peloton, bringing five riders with only one other team bringing more than two. This set up the perfect situation for Cheerwine, let the break go and have a 50/50 chance of winning the sprint or let the other riders bury themselves and put either of the sprinters Van Gilder or Benjamin in the lead out.
Cheatley took it in her own hands to do the former. "I knew the bunch was coming in quick so if I was going to win the race I was going to have to jump early. Otherwise I knew my team was strong enough to win the bunch sprint."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com
- Canadian champion Gina Grain (expresscopy.com) sprints for a prime.
- Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) was banking multiple $500 primes.
- With most of her teammates in Europe with the national team, Laura Kroepsch (TEAm Lipton) had to freelance today.
- Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine) takes the win.
- Cheerwine makes it a podium sweep with the field sprint.
- The early laps are for chatting, as Rory Sutherland (Health Net-Maxxis) chats with his neighbours.
- The early break is led by Ben Raby (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada), showing off for his mother.
- The first intermediate sprint winds up with Dominque Rollin (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada) on the right and Alejandro Acton (Colavita-Sutter Home) in the middle, while Mike Friedman (Slipstream-Chipotle) gets boxed in on the far left.
- Slipstream-Chipotle's domestic DS Dr. Alan Lim prefers to use ESP in lieu of radios to communicate with his riders.
- Friedman picks a better line for the second intermediate sprint and gains valuable points.
- Brad Huff (Slipstream-Chipotle) waves to the throngs of adoring fans that came out to see him.
- Ian MacGregor (Slipstream-Chipotle) and Trent Wilson (Jittery Joe's) chase the break.
- Overall leader Nathan O'Neill (Health Net-Maxxis) leads the peloton, waiting to see what happens with the intermediates sprints.
- Jakob Nielsen (Glud & Marstrands) was the horsepower in the break, along with Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefits/Medifast.)
- Jonny Sundt (Kelly Benefits/Medifast) working in the break.
- Toyota-United did a lot of work to kill the break, which paid dividends later.
- It's hard being a team director.
- Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United), Freddie Rodriguez (Predictor-Lotto) and Mike Friedman (Slipstream-Chipotle) with only a few laps to go.
- The Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada team in crisis mode after sprinter Dominique Rollin crashed with five laps to go.
- Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto) moves to the front to repeat yesterday's lead-out.
- The dash for the cash...
- ...who wants some?
Images by Kurt Jambretz/www.actionimages.cc
- Sarah Caravella (Aaron's Pro Cycling) didn't have many teammates in today's race, but still rode aggressively.
- Cheerwine and ValueAct Capital patrol the front of the field in the early going.
- Lara Kroepsch (TEAm Lipton) reaches for her bottle to stay hydrated on a hot day as Brooke Miller (Team Tibco) looks on.
- Chrissy Ruiter (Cheerwine) sprints hard out of the corner.
- Canadian national champion Gina Grain (Expresscopy.com) takes off in search of the break.
- Brooke Miller (Team Tibco) marked closely by Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine).
- Chrissy Ruiter (Cheerwine) leads the Cheerwine train in the closing laps.
- Katherine Carroll (Aaron's Pro Cycling) keeps a sharp eye on the action up the road.
- A small group of riders escaped from the peloton midway through the race.
- Carrie Cash (Xplane/Team Revolution) rode a great race in the scorching midday sun.
- The breakaway put over a minute into the field at one point, but it was not to be.
- Catherine Cheatly (Cheerwine) went to the front and orchestrated the chase.
- Catherine Cheatly (Cheerwine) celebrates a wonderful solo victory.
- Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) happily occupies the second spot on the podium.
- Cheerwine podium sweep (L-R): Laura Van Gilder, Catherine Cheatly, and Kelly Benjamin.
- Justin England (Toyota-United) cruises up the slight uphill section toward the finish.
- Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) spent the early part of the race toward the back of the peloton.
- A small breakaway formed after a prime lap and gained considerable time on the field.
- Race leader Nathan O'Neill (Health Net) takes a turn at the front in the early going.
- Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) rides with his first lieutenant Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United).
- Frank Travieso (AEG Toshiba) screams down the back stretch as the pace quickens.
- The Slipstream boys were active at the front chasing the breakaway in hopes of putting one of their riders on the podium.
- Rashann Bahati (Rock Racing) didn't seem phased by today's intense heat.
- Kelly Health Benefits/Medifast did a great job of animating today's race.
- Kirk O'Bee (Health Net) contemplates a solo move on the finishing stretch.
- Johhny Sundt (Kelly Health Benefits/Medifast) was all smiles in the early going.
- Race leader Nathan O'Neill (Health Net) cruises through as the peloton seems content to let the break gain time.
- Keven Lacome (Kelly Health Benefits/Medifast) takes off in search of the small group up the road.
- Timmy Duggan (Slipstream-Chipotle) leads the field out of the final corner.
- Ryan Dewald (Rite Aid) jumps hard out of the final corner.
- The small group up the road became a group of six and put almost two minutes into the field.
- David McCook (Kelly Health Benefits/Medifast) listens intently to instructions in his ear from team director Jonas Carney.
- Slipstream assembled at the front and dragged the break back to the field.
- Gilbert Martin (Kelly Health Benefits/Medifast) puts in an intense effort in the heat.
- Ben Jaques-Maynes (Priority Health) is obviously feeling the effects of the heat as he rides with his tongue out.
- The six man breakaway seemed to be having a hard time getting organized.
- Frustrated by the breaks lack of organization, Johnny Sundt struck out on his own for several laps.
- In the closing laps Toyota-United assembled at the front to position its sprinter for the finale.
- Heath Blackgrove (Toyota-United) leads the Toyota-United train through with two laps to go.
- Dominic Roland (Kodak Sierra) had a mishap in the closing laps and his team put on an impressive display attempting to bring him back to the field.
- Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) takes a very hotly contested sprint finish.
- Stage podium (L-R): Taylor Tolleson (Slipstream-Chipotle), Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United), and Gilbert Martin (Kelly Health Benefits/Medifast).
- Overall podium (L-R): Mike Friedman (Slipstream-Chipotle), Nathan O'Neill (Health Net), and Timmy Duggan (Slipstream-Chipotle).
- The battle continues with a champagne fight on the podium.
Results
Pro men 1 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 2.31.27 2 Taylor Tolleson (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 3 Martin Gilbert (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 4 Michael Friedman (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 5 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor - Lotto 6 Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (Arg) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 7 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 8 Jeff Hopkins (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 9 Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita - Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 10 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing 11 Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Rock Racing 12 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 13 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 14 Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 15 Yasvany Falcon (Cuba) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 16 Maxime Vives (Can) Calyon - Lightspeed Pro Cycling Team 17 Adam Myerson (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 18 John Murphy (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 19 Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 20 Stephen Kincaid (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 21 Daniel Holt (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 22 Dan Schmatz (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 23 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 24 Alexi Martinez (USA) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 25 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 26 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 27 Cody O'Reilley (USA) Kodakgallery.com 28 Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 29 Todd Yezefski (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 30 Scottie Weiss (USA) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 31 Shawn Milne (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 32 Alejandro Acton (Arg) Colavita - Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 33 Todd Henrikson (USA) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork 34 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 35 Jonathan Page (USA) Battley Harley-Davidson 36 Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home 37 Erik Lyman (Can) Calyon/Litespeed Pro Cycling 38 Patrick Walsh (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 39 Andy Bajadali (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 40 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 41 Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 42 Brad Huff (USA) Team Slipstream powered by 43 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 44 Greg Reain (Can) Calyon - Lightspeed Pro Cycling Team 45 Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 46 Joshua Thornton (USA) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 47 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team CSC 48 Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 49 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 50 Kristian House (GBr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 51 Eric Keim (USA) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 52 James Meadley (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 53 Ryan Roth (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 54 Frank Travieso (Cub) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 55 Justin England (USA) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 56 Curtis Gunn (USA) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 57 Michael Norton (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 58 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita - Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 59 Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit 60 Richard England (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 61 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 62 Kevin Lacombe (Can) Team Volkswagen - Trek 63 Chuck Coyle (USA) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 0.43 64 Matthew Shriver (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 1.02 65 Rahsaan Bahati (USA) Rock Racing 66 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 1.16 67 Oleg Grishkin (Rus) Navigators 68 Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 69 Mark Walters (Can) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 1.29 70 Trent Wilson (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 2.10 71 Rudolph Napolitano (USA) Rock Racing 72 Evan Elken (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 73 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) Colavita Sutter Home 2.45 74 Ben Raby (USA) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 3.52 Pro women 1 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) Cheerwine 1.33.23 2 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine 3 Kelly Benjamin (USA) Cheerwine 4 Gina Grain (Can) Team expresscopy.com 5 Brooke Miller (USA) Team Tibco 6 Sam Schneider (USA) Mesa Cycles 7 Katharine Carroll (USA) Aaron's Corporate 8 Dale Tye (USA) Hub Racing 9 Mackenzie Dickey (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home 10 Briana Kovac (USA) Texas Roadhouse 11 Mackenzie Woodring (USA) Priority Health 12 Julie Bellerose (USA) Aberdeen 13 Anne Samplonius (Can) Team expresscopy.com 14 Sarah Bamberger (USA) Cheerwine 15 Sarah Caravella (USA) Aaron's Corporate 16 Gina Voci (USA) Team Kenda Tire 17 Trish Bell (USA) Morgan 18 Robin Farina (USA) Targetraining 19 Laurel Green (USA) Team Mack Paper 20 Chrissy Ruiter (USA) Cheerwine 21 Sharon Allpress (USA) ValueAct Capital 22 Hannah Banks (Aus) ValueAct Capital 23 Martina Patella (USA) ValueAct Capital 24 Kristin Wentworth (USA) Team Kenda Tire 25 Carries Cash (USA) Xplane/Team 26 Megan Elliot (USA) 27 Debbie Dust (USA) Team Kenda Tire 28 Tamyra Barnard (USA) Team Kenda Tire 29 Christine Dekraay (USA) HT Nautural 30 Natalie Klemko (USA) Advil ChapStick 31 Andrea Myers (USA) Targetraining 32 Laura Bowles (USA) Advil ChapStick 33 Lara Kroepsch (USA) TEAm Lipton 34 Leigh Valletti (USA) Targetraining 35 Jenette Williams (USA) Hub Racing Final General Classification Pro men 1 Nathan O'Neill (Aus) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 4.38.30 2 Michael Friedman (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 0.03 3 Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 0.06 4 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor - Lotto 0.07 5 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 6 Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 0.08 7 Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 0.10 8 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 9 Chris Horner (USA) Predictor - Lotto 0.12 10 Alejandro Acton (Arg) Colavita - Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 11 Edward King (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 0.13 12 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 0.15 13 John Murphy (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.17 14 Taylor Tolleson (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 0.18 15 Ryan Roth (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 16 Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita - Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 0.19 17 Frank Travieso (Cub) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 18 Brad Huff (USA) Team Slipstream powered by 0.22 19 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 20 Curtis Gunn (USA) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 0.23 21 Shawn Milne (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.25 22 Joshua Thornton (USA) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 0.26 23 Yasvany Falcon (Cuba) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 24 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 0.28 25 Justin England (USA) Toyota - United Pro Cycling Team 26 Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 27 Kristian House (GBr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 28 Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 0.30 29 Todd Henrikson (USA) AEG-Toshiba-Jetnetwork 0.31 30 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 31 Greg Reain (Can) Calyon - Lightspeed Pro Cycling Team 0.33 32 Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit 0.34 33 Patrick Walsh (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 0.35 34 Eric Keim (USA) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 35 James Meadley (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 36 Scott Zwizanski (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 0.40 37 Martin Gilbert (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies - Medifast 38 Andy Bajadali (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 39 Todd Yezefski (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 0.41 40 Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita Sutter Home 0.43 41 Kevin Lacombe (Can) Team Volkswagen - Trek 0.45 42 Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita - Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light 0.47 43 Daniel Holt (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 0.50 44 Dan Schmatz (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 0.53 45 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0.54 46 Jeff Hopkins (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 0.57 47 Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing 0.58 48 Emile Abraham (Tri) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 0.59 49 Cody O'Reilley (USA) Kodakgallery.com 50 Adam Myerson (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 1.00 51 Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Rock Racing 1.01 52 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team CSC 1.05 53 Scottie Weiss (USA) AEG - Toshiba - Jetnetwork Pro Cycling Team 1.20 54 Jonathan Page (USA) Battley Harley-Davidson 1.24 55 Maxime Vives (Can) Calyon - Lightspeed Pro Cycling Team 1.26 56 Michael Norton (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 1.38 57 Erik Lyman (Can) Calyon/Litespeed Pro Cycling 1.39 58 Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (Arg) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 1.40 59 Matthew Shriver (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 1.46 60 Chuck Coyle (USA) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 1.51 61 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Health Net Presented By Maxxis 2.00 62 Alexi Martinez (USA) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 2.03 63 Oleg Grishkin (Rus) Navigators 2.06 64 Mark Walters (Can) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 2.09 65 Rahsaan Bahati (USA) Rock Racing 2.12 66 Stephen Kincaid (USA) Rite Aid Pro Cycling 2.21 67 Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 2.24 68 Rudolph Napolitano (USA) Rock Racing 3.02 69 Trent Wilson (Aus) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 3.28 70 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS 3.29 71 Evan Elken (USA) The Jittery Joe's Pro Cycling Team 3.39 72 Ben Raby (USA) Kodakgallery.com - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 4.37 73 Richard England (Aus) Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell 6.47
